triangulari-oTstis apice attenuato-obtusis marginibus utrinque in spinam brevem v . subelongatam crassiusc.
nlam productis.— in B C . F r o ir . x iv. 7 3 . E . Mülleri, Me isn. I. c. 6 1 . [Gunn, 4 0 3 , 1 2 3 1 .)
H a b . Common in marshes in th e northern parts o f th e I sla n d ; near Launceston, Georgetown, e tc .—
(H . N o v .) «
D is t r ib . Victoria, M u e lle r, Robertson, etc.
Boot creeping, and throwing np numerous slems, so that the planis eover the ground in large p a t c h e s .-
2 -3 feet high, simple or sparingly branched. Leaves very n a n w . a span to a foot long, bhmt or acumiuate. with
flat or cnsped margins, and the base blunt, sharp, or almost cordate, always inæqidlateral. low e r whorls o f flowers
axillary. Flowers unisexual. Fa k e s ot the fruit triangular, ending in a blnnt, narrow point, the margms produced
into a long or short, blunt or sharp tooth.
Gen. I I . P O L Y G O N UM , Í .
Flores hermaphroditi. F e r ia n tU um 4 -5 -p a r titum , lac iniis fructu appressis haud auctis. S tam in a 4 - 8 ,
sæpius 8 . ^ O van um compressum v. trigonum. N w r calyce sic co immersa, trigona v . compressa.— Herbæ,
r a n u s frú tic e s; folus a lte rn is, sessilibus p e tio la tis v e , basi v . tn e iio stipules ocreiformæ a in a t i s ; floribus
a t l i s V. r u in s , s o lita r iis V. sp ica tis, ra r iu s ra c em o sis; pedicellis a r tie u la tis .
Of this large and cosmopolitan genus there are abont fifteen known Anstralian species, several o f which are
certaMy peculiar to Australia aud Tasmania, bnt some will no doubt prove to be varieties of widely-diffused
species. As a genus. Folygmmm is known from Runwx by its different habit, and by the leaflets of the perianth
not becoming dilated over the fruit, and from MuehlcbeeUu by the perianth not becoming fleshy and baccate. The
stamens (usuafly eight) vary m mimber in the different species, and sometimes in each ; and the nuts, though generally
constantly flat or tngonous in each species, in some vary also. (Name from rroAvs, many, and yovo, a jo in t;
iu allusion to the jointed stems.)
^ 1 . Polygonum minus (H u d s. Fl. A iig l. i. 1 4 8 ) ; glaber, caule gracili decumbente demum erecto,
ocreis lon g e cOiatis, foliis breve petiolatis lanceolatis glabris marginibus m inute c iliolatis, spicis solitariis
subracemosisve laxiusculis erectis, bracteis breve turbinatis truncatis pediceflos superantibus ore glabris v.
ciliatis, staminibus 5 - 8 , nu c e lenticulari v. trigona m tid a .— Me isn. in B C . F r o i r . x iv. I l l ; B n g l. B o t. t.
1 0 4 3 . P . decipiens, B r . P r o i r . 4 2 0 ; U e isn . I. c. P . prostratum, A . Cunn. P r o i r . F l. N . Z ea l., non B r •
Nob. in F l. N . Z eal. i. 2 0 8 . (Gunn, 4 0 .)
H ab. Common in the northern parts o f the Island, about Launceston, e tc .— (PI. N o v .)
D i s t r i b . South-eastern Australia, from the tropics to Vic to r ia ; Swan E iv e r ; N ew Zealand; all
E o r o p e ; temperate and subtropical Asia, and N o r th Africa.
Some o f my Tasmanian specimens agree with Brown's character o f F. decipiens in the glabrons bracts, but in
others this organ is strongly ciliated; all have trigonous nuts, though P . minus has, in New Zealand nnd in other
countries, more frequently compressed nuts. The leaves are scabrid, with minute cilia on the margin, which are
sometimes almost obsolete.— A slender, glabrons herb, a span to 18 inches long. Stem, slender, procumbent, ascendiug,
simple or rarely branched. Ocrece with long cilia at the mouth. Leaves lanceolate, 2 - 3 inches long,
glabrous on both surfaces. Spikes solitaiy or snbracemose, strict, erect, about l i inch long. Flowers rather lax.
Bracts cuueate, truncate, as long as tbe pedicels.
2 . Polygonum subsessile (Br. Prodr. 4 1 9 ) j caule gracili laxe ramoso elongato ascendente ap-
t, ocreis pilosis strigoso-c iliatis, foliis subsessilibus lauceolatis obtusiusculis utrinque appresse
, spicis cylindraceis pedunculatis solitariis subracemosisve, bracteis cuneatis ciliatis, floribus
5-andris glabris, nuce lenticulari túrgida.— if«® » , in D C . P r o d r . x iv . 1 1 3 . {Gunn, 4 2 .)
H a b . N or th e rn parts o f th e Island, Launceston, Gwnn.— (F i. N o v .)
D i s t e i b . N ew South Wales and Victoria.
Similar in general appearance to P . minus, but very distinct, and easUy recognized by tbe rigid, appressed
bairs on the red stem, sheaths, both surfaces of tbe leaves, peduncles, and bracts. The leaves also are more sessile,
blunt, or hardly acute, and the nut is lenticular and very turgid. Stipules with long, rigid cüia. Spikes terminal
and axillary.
3 . Polygonum strigosum (Br. Prodr. 4 2 0 ) ; caule gracüi basi decumbente dein erecto anguiato,
ocreis pe tiolis nervisque subtus strigosis retrorsum aculeolatisve, ocreis membranaceis bracteisque acutis
ciliatis, foliis petiolatis oblongis oblongo-lanceolatis basi rotundatis truncatis sagittatisve, spicis geminis
axillaribus terminalibusque longe gracile pedunculatis laxe paucifloris, floribus dissitis glabris, nuce len ticu lari
túrgida.— ? P . strigosum, M e isn . in D C . P r o d r . x iv. 1 3 4 . {Gunn, 4 1 .)
H a b . Northern parts o f the Island, Launce ston, (?»»».— ( F l . Feb ., March.)
D i s t r i b . South-eastern Australia, from the Brisbane River to Y'ictoria.
I have doubtfully quoted Meisner’s P . strigosum under this, as I do not find the ocreæ to be elongated, nor
having appressed cilia, nor the spikes to he dense, these being in aü my specimens smaU, few-flowered, with the
flowers distant. The angled stem, petioled, hastate, oblong or lanceolate leaves, slender, few-flowered spüres, and
above all, the recurved prickles, which infest the stem, petioles, neiwes beneath, and peduncles, weU characterize
the species. The leaves are very variable in form.
4 . Polygonum prostratum (Br. Prodr. 4 1 9 ) ; caule prostrato ramoso püoso, ocreis brevibus laxis
ciliatis (interdum apice foliaceis), foliis breve petiolatis lanceolatis glabris pilosisve margine nervisque ciliatis,
spicis axillaribus terminalibusque brevibus oblongis breve pedunculatis, bracteis imbricatis turbinatis g la bris
ciliatisve pedicellos superautibus, staminibus 5 , nuce lenticulari.— .ilfej®». in D C . P r o d r . x iv. 1 1 6 .
{Gunn, 4 3 .)
H a b . N o t uncommon in various parts o f the Islan d .— (Fl. De c.)
D i s t r i b . Extratropical Eastern and YVestern Australia.
Stems woody at the base. Branehes mmierous, spreading, much divided, prostrate, a span to 18 inches long,
covered with long, lax hairs. Ocrea short, loose, membranous, cüiated, iu some of Gunn’s specimens bearing at
the mouth a short, foliaceous lamina. Leaves subsessüe, attached to the middle of the ocrea, narrow-lanceolate,
l - h 4 inches long, püose or glabrous on both surfaces. Spikes small, shortly peduncled, axülary or terminal, usuaüy
solitaiy. Flowers imbricated. Bracts turbinate, lax, ciliated or glabrous, two- or three-flowered.— The New Zea’-
land plant refcn-ed to tliis, by Cunniugliam aud others, is probably F. minus, as is certainly that so caüed by myself
ill the New Zealand Flora.
Gen. I I I . M U E H L E N B E C K IA , Meisn.
Flores polygamo-dioici. P e rian th ium 5-partitum, fruetifer auctus v. baccatus. M a s c . S tam in a 8,
rudimento p istilli 0 . FtEir. e t H e r m . S tam in a 8 ; antheris effcetis v. nuUis. Ovarium trigonum, stylis
3, V. stigmatibos subsessilibus. Nnw trigona, periaiithio sicco v. baccato immersa, endocarpio iuflexo
spurie semi-3-locn!ari. Semen profunde trilobum.— Frutices v. suffrutices p r o s tr a ti v. volnbiles ; ramis
su lca tis a n g u la tis v e ; ocreis membranaceis, im be rbibu s; foliis p e tio la tis , siepe carn o su lis; floribns alb is v.
virescentibus, a x illa ribu s, so lita r iis , sp ic a tis racemosis p a n ic u la tis v e ; pedic ellis cum calyce a rtieu la tis.
This gcmis, which is often considered a section of Folygmum, differs from the ordinary forms ot that genus in
its more shrubby hahit, often twining stems, and in the perianth often becoming enlarged in fruit, and even forming
a more or loss fleshy berry roniid the trigonous imt. The flowers are generally unisexual, and sometimes polygamous
; the imde fiowers have no trace of ovary, hut the female have imperfect stamens. -About four or five Aus